[Does she know about Tianyi Group?]
[Young Master? Where did she take him? Isn't this the 21st century?]
Tao Zhizhi looked at Fu Jue with a puzzled expression, then at Zhi Yun, who was dressed in luxury brands. Her head, which was already dizzy from the heat, couldn't quite process what she was seeing.
[Need money to start a business? Huh? Are you kidding me?]
She had some doubts in her mind. With more and more customers, it didn't allow her to spend too much time thinking about it. Seeing the two old acquaintances joking around, she didn't say anything and went back to work.
Fu Jue had a bad feeling. Although she knew Zhiyun didn't understand her current situation, Tao Zhizhi's immediate return after leaving meant she had heard everything. Her cold tone slowly drifted into Zhiyun's ears:
What would you like to eat?
Zhiyun also noticed the change in his tone. Based on her understanding of Fu Jue, his emotions had shifted because of that girl. Realizing that she had seemingly ruined his plans, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Crayfish will do, I promise! I won't say another word!"
Zhiyun mimed pulling a zipper near her mouth towards Fu Jue and nodded firmly.
Fu Jue's mind is currently undergoing a storm as he organizes his thoughts. He then realizes that his previous answers were full of mistakes. Given the effort the Fu family has put into him, he is bound to present something different from others.
If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off being honest sooner.
Fu Jue shook his head and went into the kitchen. He tried to get close to her, but she subtly avoided him.
He frowned, his thin lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated; now was not the time to speak.
The two remained silent until dinner service ended. There was still some time before the official late-night snack service began, and Fu Jue wanted to find her to talk.
She was sitting by the window, with two glasses of water on the table. She was drinking from one glass herself, while the other seemed to be prepared for him.
Fu Jue sighed softly, and having made up his mind, sat down naturally.
"Zhizhi, I'll answer whatever you want to ask."
Tao Zhizhi stared straight at Fu Jue with unwavering eyes. The moonlight bathed the two of them, seemingly casting a faint glow on him, making him appear open and honest.
She knew where her displeasure came from when she heard what Zhiyun said, but when he seemed to offer her everything, as if she couldn't ask him anything, she fell silent.
Fu Jue's worst fears had come true. He had seen Tao Zhizhi happy, serious, and shy, but her current silence made him panic. He unconsciously gripped the cup tightly, then steadied himself and spoke:
"Zhizhi, my name is Fu Jue. I am currently the president of Tianyi Group. I left in a hurry because some tricky things happened at the branch office. I'm sorry I haven't been able to tell you before."
“I was worried that you wouldn’t accept me if you found out, so I lied to you.”
Fu Jue looked into her face with sincere eyes, his gaze filled with undisguised passion:
"Zhizhi, I've liked you since the first time I saw you! I know I shouldn't approach you this way, but I don't want to create distance between us, so I'm using my position as an employee to get to know you better."
Can you forgive me?
Fu Jue looked aggrieved, her pleading eyes filled with expectation.
When Tao Zhizhi heard his blunt confession, her usually calm expression turned helpless. Actually, she wasn't that angry, but she couldn't understand why, after working at the shop for so long, he could have just told her directly instead of covering it up with a clumsy lie.
But then she thought about it again. During her time working with Fu Jue, he worked diligently, liked to tease her, liked to stay close to her, and would subconsciously protect her. She was dealing with Fu Jue as a person, so it seemed that she didn't need to care too much about what his family background was like.
And—he's just so pleasing to the eye!
Tao Zhizhi followed her heart, her red lips moving slightly: "Yes, I understand."
Fu Jue didn't miss a single micro-expression of hers. Seeing her slightly shy response, he felt as if he had been thrown into a honey pot. He breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"Have you forgotten that you still have work to finish? The guests will be here soon."
Unable to withstand his intense gaze, Tao Zhizhi looked away, picked up her water glass, and prepared to leave.
Although he didn't get a response from her, Fu Jue was already satisfied, having already gotten a good deal. Taking advantage of her situation, he pulled her hand and gestured for her to sit down.
"Okay, you rest first, I'll go prepare."
Tao Zhizhi was currently sorting out her thoughts: [Was it too hasty of me to forgive him like this?]
She covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her heart, which had been captivated by his good looks: [But he's so handsome!]
Based on its overall perspective, Yi Yi analyzed the situation and said, "Host, you've fallen in love!"
Soon after, people taking an evening stroll entered the small shop drawn by the aroma of barbecue.
In the steamy kitchen, Fu Jue wanted to wipe Tao Zhizhi's sweat, and as usual, he reached out to her.
Tao Zhizhi did not dodge, and accepted his service without any concern.
——
"Haha, Brother Bai made a fortune today!"
The man called Brother Bai laughed loudly and unrestrainedly, ignoring the stares of those around him.
"It's my treat today, all you can eat!"
Two people beside him cheered, shouting, "Brother Bai is so generous! Following Brother Bai means you'll get to drink!"
The group approached the warm food stall with slightly unsteady steps, naturally smelling the powerful aroma emanating from the roasted meat.
"Brother Bai, this smells amazing! How about we go to this place?"
Brother Bai waved his hand and pointed to the small food stall ahead, heading straight there:
"Come on, eat as much as you want!"
The group had just finished drinking beer, and their bodies reeked of a mixture of sweat and alcohol, which clashed with the fresh and clean atmosphere of the small shop.
Su Bai stepped forward to order their food, and couldn't help but frown. The shop didn't serve alcohol, and this was the first time she had smelled such a strong smell of alcohol since she started working there.
Someone called out to Su Bai:
"Waiter, give us a dozen beers."
"Sorry, we do not serve alcoholic beverages."
Upon hearing this, Brother Bai became displeased, slammed his fist on the table, and roared, "What restaurant doesn't have alcohol?"
Seeing that he was getting drunk and wanted to have a serious argument, the others quickly comforted Brother Bai: "Brother Bai, isn't there a convenience store nearby? I'll go buy it right away!"
Bai Ge was coaxed into sitting down by Dong Yi and Dong Yi, his face still showing anger.
The man who spoke hurriedly bought a dozen beers and returned. Once the barbecue was served, the group was captivated by the aroma and began to feast.
"Brother, this place is really good! It's perfect for pairing with drinks!"
Brother Bai picked up his beer and took a sip, glancing around before letting out a loud burp without any restraint, and began to speak in a drunken slur:
"Look at those ladies at the table over there, do you want to find a partner today?!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com